Single Side Cut Shift

8. The actions depicted in Figure 51 and 52 are made and the cut completed by placing the right hand portion on top of the cards in the left hand. The Aces are now on top of the deck.

9. While some may prefer to insert the four Aces nearer the top, when control-ing them to the top, and nearer the bottom when controling them to the bottom, I have found that if the Aces are inserted into the center of the deck it is not only more convincing but the control actions are actually easier. In other words, after the Aces are inserted, separately, into the center of the deck there should be about ten cards above the separated Aces and about ten below the Aces. There are approximately six to seven cards between the inserted Aces.

Single Cut Swivel Shift

1. The preceding actions for this Swivel Shift are identical to that of the Technical Variation Single Side Cut Shift except that the manner of stripping out the block of cards from the Aces is different. Sometimes an unorthodox action, in a rather accepted sleight, can add to the deception.

2. To control the Aces to the Top go through all the actions needed to get the cards into the position shown in Figure 57. At this point the right hand turns the deck clockwise to bring the lower end facing the performer. At the same time the left hand also turns to place the left 1st finger onto the inner left corner of the cards, that is, the protruding corner of the upper packet. The left 1st finger now presses on this corner of the cards and swings them up and outwards, as in Figure 58.

freed from the upper packet the hands return to their previous position, allowing the upper packet to fall face down into the left hand, as in Figure 59. The right hand remains immediately behind, ready to place its cards onto those in the left hand, completing the Swivel Cut.

3. To control the Aces to the bottom go through the actions required to get the condition shown in Figure 54. The right hand will be holding the cards in a manner similar to Figure 55 except at this stage the right hand turns its cards to get into the Swivel Cut position shown in Figure 58; however, here the left 1st finger will be swinging out the Bottom section of the deck. Continue till you reach the position shown in Figure 59 and right here the action is changed by placing the cards from the left hand onto those in the right hand. While not exactly logical, this slight change is not noticed if the Swivel Cut is carried through without stopping.

4. While all the shifts thus described have been handled strictly in the hands you can at times vary the procedure by dropping the halves, as they are stripped out, to the table thus completing the Single Cut.

Tlie Moveable Block Shift

1. This type of shift is interesting in that during the apparent actions of the All Around Square Up the block, plus the jogged Aces, are moved at the same time. First I will describe the actions to get Aces to the top.

2. Begin by angle-jogging the Aces as in A of Figure 48. With right thumb pull upwards on the inner left corner of the projecting Aces and swing the deck over so the jogged Aces will be in line with the bottom section of the deck as in Figure 56.

3. Without altering the right hand's position on the deck the right hand turns the deck clockwise, using the left forefinger as a pivot point in a manner similar to the All Around Square Up,

bringing the inner end of the deck to face to the performer as in Figure 60. You will note how the edge of the bottom block, to the left, is in direct line with the angle-jogged Aces to the right.

4. The left thumb is now placed against the jogged block and Aces. This will be similar to the action shown in Figure 41. With the left thumb, press down on the angle-jogged cards causing them to slide downwards. From here you do all the actions as described in Step 7 of the All Around Square Up, Figures 42, 43, and 44, repeated here.

Figure 42

Figure 43

Figure 44

Although, here not only will the Aces become in-jogged but the lower Block as well, as seen in Figure 61. The jogged end is covered, at this point, by the right hand from above .

5. From here the cards plus the bottom block are first started out and then cut out, inwards toward yourself as in Figure 62 after which the cut is completed by placing the right hand portion on top of the left.